After an unpleasant rush hour exit from Albuquerque, we were on our way via "Scenic Byway" Route 14 to Santa Fe. The skies were significantly hazy due to the out of control wildfires burning in the immediate environs. The high winds have made the firefighting next to impossible.
The haziness on the horizon from the fires
Directly across from our first stop area. a motorcyclist got a flat tire and, while moving to the shoulder, was clipped by a car and knocked to the ground. Nobody hurt.
Diana had her camera today and was able to get several shots at the SAG stop and elsewhere along the ride.
On Route 14; not generally this congested
The quaint little town of Madrid is situated about 22 miles from Santa Fe. Everybody stopped here for ice cream and food.
Although you readers must be getting tired of hearing this, today was another big climbing day. Unlike the mountain pass ascents which are continuous uphills, today was marked by steep uphills followed by steep downhills. I hit a new high today at 44.1 mph and that was with braking when the road surface started getting gnarly.
On the tire front, I started off the day with the rear tire feeling slightly mushy. I filled it up and decided to hope for the best. By this evening it was beyond mushy but, fortunately, had gotten me to Santa Fe. Tonight I extracted a half inch piece of wire from the tire and, of course, replaced the tube. On Sunday, we will do our last bit of Interstate riding and this should dramatically reduce the tire failures.
Here are some more views from the bike today.
One quick observation is that, since leaving the California desert and southern Arizona, we are now for the first time seeing more regular law enforcement than U.S. Border Patrol.
Tomorrow is a non-riding day so Diana and I will spend the day in Santa Fe Old Town, which we both really enjoy.
Total Miles: 67 Total Vertical Climb: 5200 ft.
a hello to diana and the two of u have a well deserved day of pleasure and rest tomorrow. just for fun fyi, I had a friend years ago who believed that the devil lives in tucumcari. she seemed, otherwise, normal. just the same you might want to think about that during your picnic. while intellectually nor spiritually do I believe that, I found that i never stopped there and I always found myself driving a little faster through that city. what's up with that?
ReplyDeleteMike, it seems the tire gods are evening up the fact you got something like 15,000 miles on the tires you road on in Florida.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the day off and hope you two have a great time.
Beautiful trip! Will you be going through Cimarron, NM?
ReplyDeleteWith Love,
Shannon
Just trying to figure out how to post a comment! Following your journey and enjoying the photography. Wendy is following, too.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your well deserved ay off. Perhaps you and Diana can go for a nice bike ride? Just so you know, Joshua dared to read your entire note :) Looking forward to your next entry. love, Annnie
ReplyDeleteMike, So proud of your tenacity on crossing the U.S.A.. You are awesome!!! Your writing and photographs are absolutely beautiful, especially those of you and Diana. Should be posted in the National Geographic. Traveling by bike across the southwest you can see why my heart is here in Arizona. Enjoy your time with Diana. Be careful and I am rooting for you. I know you will make it to Boston......Love..Aunt Eileen
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